LBL festivals/chants

• Wesak

  • Commemoration of Buddha's birth, death, enlightenment
  • Celebrated at full moon
  • Buddhists attend temple and give supplies / offerings
  • reaffirm commitment to moral precepts (virtue)
  • Chant / meditate (cultivation)
• Vassa

  • rain retreat during monsoon season
  • Monks retreat to monasteries to meditate
  • People provide support
  • Buddhist lent (give up smoking /drinking )
  • Supported by Anapanasati Sutta - Buddha retreat to meditate
• Kathina

  • End of Vassa
  • Alms (offering) giving from people and cloth (Sangha kamma)
  • Generates merit / good karma
• Uposatha

  • Day to cleanse mind and stick to 5 precepts
  • reminds everyone what aim is
  • Monks confess to mistakes
  • Happens weekly in theravada (slightly dif mahayana)
• Buddha's Birthday

  • Hanamatsuri
  • Flowers decorate
  • April 8th
• Obon

  • Ancestors honoured
  • Graves cleaned
  • Buddhists remember interdependence (wouldn't be here without ancestors)
• Parinibbana day

  • Celebrates Buddha's final nibbana (at death) in mahayana
  • Escaped cycle of samsara
  • Hope to all buddhists
• Lama Tsong Khapa Day

  • Tibetan festival
  • Enlightenment of Je Tsong Khapa - important teacher
  • All merit from karma increased
  • Buddhists focus on ethical practice
• Theravada Buddhist chants


  Name of 3 jewels/ refuges (Buddha, Sangha, Dharma)
• Mahayana chants

  Nam Myoho renge Kho

  Nam- Putting into action

  Myoho renge kho - Lotus sutra (emphasises buddha nature)
• Pure land (mahayana)


  Name of bodhisattva Amitabha

  Aim to reach pure land / 'heaven'

  Source of comfort

  Amitayus meditation sutra - anyone can reach pure land by contemplating / calling his name.
• Types of Mantras

  Theravada - 'Namo Buddhaya' -Homage to buddha

  Mahayana - 'Om mani padme hum' -Seek attention from Chenrezig (Boddhisatva embodying compassion)